Pope Francis uses and expands integral human development in Laudato Si’ to challenge modern people towards a new and morally responsible dialogue about how our generation is shaping the future of the planet. Laudato Si’ is an encyclical written upon ethics and the common good and provides a truly systematic understanding of the ecological basis for a just, sustainable, and peaceful world. The church’s interest in human development is that of a human’s humanitarian instinct of secular thinking through natural pool and compassion empathy for someone in need. Pope Francis states, “Since everything is closely interrelated, and today’s problems call for a vision capable of taking into account every aspect of the global crisis, I suggest that we …show more content…
This approach to development rejects the idea that development aims simply at the fulfilling of basic needs, such as food and shelter. It argues, on the basis of human solidarity, that all people should be involved in the integral and authentic development of all. Development, in this sense, gives attention to economic justice, ecological sustainability, and other values that go beyond speaking of development only in terms of economic growth. This ecological sustainability begins with relationships taking place at the atomic and molecular level, between plants and animals, and among species in ecological networks and systems. For example, he points out, “We need only recall how ecosystems interact in dispersing carbon dioxide, purifying water, controlling illnesses and epidemics, forming soil, breaking down waste, and in many other ways which we overlook or simply do not know about” …show more content…
As seen in Ursula Le Guin’s The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas, there is a similarity with the moral paradigm of “closeting” people from the good life according to Pope Francis. Quote from Omelas. Today, living in a society focal upon happiness, we take for granted the environment through our use of hazardous factories and polluted ridden cars and fuels being part of our daily routine. However, just as a comparison to Omelas, we are locking people away from having a good life; people being our descendants, will not be fortunate enough to experience a beneficial life if we continue to risk future habitation by constantly polluting. Christ recommends that not only do we think about ourselves, but to be aware of others that we converse with and be aware of the future peoples. Quote from Laudato Si (Good of each and all) finish paragraph *Gaudium et Spes, solidarity—the church and the people of our time, your problems are my problems. The church is with the world, not against it, all on this journey together is how the church expresses
Pope Francis, the 266th pope, spreads his kindness throughout the world through his humility and approachability. He travels the world, supporting the poor and unfortunate. Pope Francis has served as both archbishop and cardinal for more than 12 years. This definitely shows his dedication to follow God's teachings and spread it everywhere he can.
As the head of the Catholic Church, it is expected of a Pope to make grand declarations about social justice and issues that concern the Church . His apostolic decrees call for christians everywhere to uphold workers rights and to provide a living wage to everyone. However, Pope Francis is the first pope who has spoken specifically on how to bring about true equality . He has made specific statements about politics and the economy that no pope has done before. His position against capitalism is starkly opposed to what we have learned in our Economics course. He has a great concern about inequality, greed and wantonness of ethics. Pope Francis’s views on the current culture are clearly evident in his Evangelii Gaudium.
Overall, Pope Francis places extreme concern on four areas, which are the idolatry of money, the option of the poor, inequality, and the common good/peace. Before reading Pope Francis’s book, I had a general familiarity with inequality and the option for the poor, but I was not completely aware of the idolatry of money in today’s society or peace in a Christian perspective. In Chapter 2, he starts talking about how we have found new idols in today’s society and how our relationship with money has taken control over not only our society, but also ourselves (Pope Francis, 55). Also, Pope Francis discusses how we as Christians need to realize that we are not exempt from concern for the poor and for social justice because it is required of everyone (Pope Francis, 201). In addition, he also talks about the vulnerability of certain groups and the progress of building people in peace, justice, and fraternity, which I will discuss in subsequent paragraphs. Prior to reading this book, I was aware of Pope Francis and some of his beliefs to an extent. I am Catholic, so I remember when he was first inaugurated as Pope and I remember hearing my family discuss some of his beliefs, but I was only somewhat aware of his style as a Christian leader. As a Christian leader, Pope Francis places emphasis on four areas of concern, which include: the new idolatry of money, option for the poor, inequality, and common good/peace.
For my outside enrichment I decided to watch the message Pope Francis delivered to the United States Congress. In his memorable speech, Pope Francis speaks powerfully about topics ranging from the refugee crisis, the death penalty, and the arms trade. In our society, we are thought to treat religion and politics as two completely separate entities, but Pope Francis overcomes that nonsensible topic and exemplifies politics as source of unification, similar to the purpose of religion. One topic that he mentioned was the refugee crisis in the wake of radical extremism. Should America accept Syrian and Iraqi refugees? Pope Francis makes it clear that not all these refugees are members of Islamic extremism, and that the US should listen to their
There is a common root to most (or perhaps all) grave forms of social injustice: the rejection of human equality and the influence of this rejection on human relationships and institutions.
Wojtyla, Karol. "On Social Concern." Catholic Social Teaching. Office For Social Justice. 1 Nov. 2004 www.osjspm.org/cst/srs.htm
Over the past two centuries, the human population has become increasingly prosperous; nourishment has improved, the economy has developed and longevity has increased. From this, it is possible to conclude that man’s battle with nature is proving beneficial. However, the wellbeing and success of mankind greatly relies on ‘ecosystem services’, which comprise any benefits provided by ecosystems that contribute towards human life. These developments in wellbeing have partly been achievable because of the increased exploitation of these ecosystem services.
Though my theology forms a basis for my disagreement with Kaplan, it is not my sole basis in this paper. My theology shapes and influences my worldview. As a chaplain, this should not be a surprise to anyone. To simply argue a topic such as the environment strictly from a scriptural or theological standpoint would quickly lose a wide au...
Certain statements made by Pope John Paul II in his commentary on the lasting significance of the papal encyclical “Rerum Novarum,” resonate in a highly spiritual plane, others a highly earthly one, and others in both at once. I would posit that this integrated place is of utmost significance to a sound doctrine of social justice in society, with which both documents are highly concerned. The current pope most clearly states the intertwining of the spiritual and physical needs of the human being when he says that “the Church's social teaching is itself a valid instrument of evangelization ” and “reveals man to himself” (John Paul II, 78). Like Pope John Paul II, I understand the social doctrine of the Church as more than an opportunity to show others how good God is and how much they need the spiritual salvation that comes from this same God's goodness. I believe in God's goodness, God is content to care for God's created and beloved children through fostering the practice of justice and peace as integral threads in the tapestry of all ...
The impact of the development on the environment and its resources should be understood in order to move forward towards a way to make the relationship between development, growth and the environment possible. From here the concept
Saint Francis of Assisi had a simple message to all in his time and in ours; live a life of humble simplicity in service to others to the glory of God. He came from a background of wealth and privilege yet put it behind him for the privilege of serving God and all His creation. To Francis everything sang out in praise to God; every person, plant, and bird to which he compelled us to be good stewards of the earth and its resources. He conveyed the truth of God’s love for us and all of creation and led by his example of service.
Modern Catholic social teachings trace its beginnings to the writings of Pope Leo XIII. His insight on Christian philosophy, politics and the social order and applies to teachings in current injustices in the economic order. Leo XIII’s teachings were also critical participation in the developments of modern social and economic life. He rooted his social ethics in the supreme value of the human person and added that all political and social structures need to respect and respond to this primary and moral claim of human dignity. While the Church and the political community are autonomous and independent of each other in their own fields, the Church is “at once the sign and the safeguard of the transcendental dimension of the human person”.
“Thus sustainable development can only be pursued if population size and growth are in harmony with the changing productive potential of the ecosystem (p.
Conservation is defined as the saving of resources. The term ‘resources’ can mean several things, but for this particular essay I will be using it to mean the same thing as Diane Hunt talks about in her work, energy and materials- with energy referring to oil, coal, electricity and natural gas - and materials being biological things such as ‘wood, soils and food sources’. It is of the utmost importance that we realise the value and importance of conservation, because if we don’t then our resources can quickly disappear. Hunt raises the point that conservation is often seen directly in contrast with ‘development’, and whilst this is a valid point, it is not particularly true- both are actually resource management concept, with the only difference being the rate at which materials and resources are being used. Development generally conjures images of rapid resource use, but as long as the resources used are being carefully monitored and replenished when applicable there is no reason for development to be opposed by conservationists. It is a fact that we need development as a species to continue thriving and to continue growing. It is also important that we conserve our resources so that we can continue developing, and so that our future generations have the ability to continue developing. By conservation we offer our future generations the same opportunities that we have, and offer
Humans, no matter where they live or what their backgrounds are, we find ourselves at the center of the fight with concern for sustainability of the environment. Knowing the land that you live on is an important part of connecting with nature and life around you. It is especially important to connect with the environment for those who work and live in less developed part of the world. Those in third world countries, India for example, rely on nature to provide support and much of their livelihood. The role of nature and how ecological knowledge play a part in our lives is important to examine. There are distinctions within the certain aspects of life that involve the expertise of local practices, especially when addressing the ideas of cultural and development in certain parts of the world.